Best colleges for Sociology in Tennessee
Ranked by graduate earnings
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Tennessee Technological University and University of Memphis are the top bachelor's Sociology programs in Tennessee by graduate earnings. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $35,723, College Scorecard. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Tennessee Technological University and University of Memphis award the most Sociology degrees in Tennessee: 87, 46 and 34 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 19 Tennessee colleges offer Sociology and award 315 degrees and certificates a year in all.
Sociology is the scientific study of human society, focusing on social behavior, relationships, and cultural aspects of everyday life. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding the complexities of social interactions…
Top 8 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,723 | 87 | 74% | — | $20,013 |
| 2 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,293 | 46 | 58% | — | $16,057 |
| 3 | University of Memphis Memphis Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,822 | 34 | 51% | — | $29,250 |
| 4 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,468 | 26 | 53% | — | $18,352 |
| 5 | Tennessee State University Nashville Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $34,884 | 3 | 34% | — | $37,500 |
| 6 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $31,699 | 16 | 40% | — | $27,375 |
| 7 | Lee University Cleveland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $25,127 | 4 | 63% | $18,918 | $25,245 |
| 8 | Lane College Jackson Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $23,591 | 12 | 18% | $14,494 | $40,472 |
Colleges awarding the most Sociology degrees in Tennessee
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public | 87 | $35,723 |
| 2 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville Public | 46 | $35,293 |
| 3 | University of Memphis Memphis Public | 34 | $34,822 |
| 4 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Public | 29 | Not reported |
| 5 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City Public | 26 | $24,468 |
| 6 | Vanderbilt University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 20 | Not reported |
| 7 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville Public | 16 | $31,699 |
| 8 | The University of Tennessee-Martin Martin Public | 8 | Not reported |
| 9 | Belmont University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 6 | Not reported |
| 10 | Carson-Newman University Jefferson City Private not-for-profit | 6 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 9 Tennessee colleges offering Sociology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lane College | Jackson | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Maryville College | Maryville | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Lee University | Cleveland | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Union University | Jackson | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Bethel University | McKenzie | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Fisk University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Tennessee State University | Nashville | Public | 3 |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University | Athens | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Le Moyne-Owen College | Memphis | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Sociologists (SOC 19-3041).
Top skills
What Sociologists earn in Tennessee
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Sociology programs in Tennessee.
Which Tennessee colleges award the most Sociology degrees?+
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (87 graduates a year), Tennessee Technological University (46 graduates a year) and University of Memphis (34 graduates a year) award the most Sociology degrees in Tennessee, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 19 Tennessee colleges offer Sociology.
What is the best college for Sociology in Tennessee?+
By graduate earnings, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville leads among bachelor's Sociology programs in Tennessee, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $35,723, College Scorecard. Tennessee Technological University and University of Memphis follow. By degrees awarded, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is the largest, with 87 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Sociology program in Tennessee has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville tops the list at $35,723. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
What is the focus of the Sociology program?+
Sociology is the scientific study of human society, focusing on social behavior, relationships, and cultural aspects of everyday life. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding the complexities of social interactions…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, active listening, writing, active learning, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Sociologists?+
The national job outlook is about +3.6% growth with around 300 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Master's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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